Method for making a ball and the product thereof

ABSTRACT

A method for making a ball includes the steps of preparing a bladder, inflating the bladder, wiring the bladder, patching pieces of a first covering onto the wired bladder, securing the first covering on the wired bladder, patching pieces of a second covering onto the first covering, and securing the second covering pieces on the first covering. Each of the second covering pieces is provided with protrusions and a trademark formed on an outer periphery of the second covering piece. A color is added to the trademark during injection molding for making each of the second covering pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a ball making method, and moreparticularly to a method in which labor effort in painting the ball iseliminated and the markings on the outer periphery are more durable. Theball made in accordance with the method has a first covering mountedaround a bladder and a second covering composed of multiple skinsrespectively and securely attached to an outer periphery of the firstcovering. The markings on the second covering skins are injectionmolded. Especially, the color on the markings is injected during themolding of the second covering skins so that the markings and the colorare more durable than those of the balls in the prior art.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] With reference to FIG. 4, a conventional method for making a ballincludes the steps of:

[0005] 1. preparing a bladder;

[0006] 2. inflating the bladder;

[0007] 3. wiring the inflated bladder;

[0008] 4. patching pieces of a covering on the wired bladder; and

[0009] 5. securing the covering pieces on the wired bladder.

[0010] With reference to FIG. 5, normally, after the bladder (60) madeof rubber is inflated, a lining (61) made of wires is wound around theinflated bladder (60). Then, a covering (62) made of multiple pieces ispatched onto the wired bladder. Finally, the wired ball with patchedcovering pieces is sent to a mold to secure the bonding between thecovering pieces and the wired bladder. After the aforementioned process,the general overall appearance of a ball is finished. Then, the ball issent to a painting department to paint colors on the ball. Taking abasketball for example, the finished basketball has stripes (63) and atrademark (64) on the outer periphery of the covering skin. Normallybefore sending the ball to the painting department, the stripes (63)have a color the same as that of the covering skins. Therefore, afterthe heating process to firmly connect every two adjacent covering piecestogether so as to secure the covering pieces on the wired bladder, thestripes (63) are the joints of two adjacent covering pieces. In order toincrease the attractive appearance of the basketball, the stripes (63)of the basketball are painted black and the trademark (64) is paintedwith an eyecatching color, such as white. After the painting process,the basketball is ready for sale. However, after a period of time ofplaying with the basketball, the stripes, and especially the trademark,are worn out due to constant friction with the ground. Long before thetrademark is worn out, the first thing that is gradually lost is thecolor on the trademark, which is bad for commercial advertisementbecause when the eyecatching color on the basketball skin is gone, noone is able to recognize the brand of the basketball. Therefore, eventhough someone on the court is attracted to a particular basketball,that someone is not able to identify (and thus not purchase) thebasketball of that brand.

[0011] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends toprovide an improved ball making method to mitigate and obviate theaforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide animproved method for making a ball in which the color and markings on theball skin are more durable.

[0013] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the process of the method of thepresent invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ball of the present inventionwith partial in exploded view;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ball of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the process of a conventional method;and

[0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional basketball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] With reference to FIG. 1, the method for making a ball inaccordance with the present invention includes the steps of:

[0020] 1. preparing a bladder;

[0021] 2. inflating the bladder;

[0022] 3. wiring the bladder;

[0023] 4. patching pieces of a first covering onto the wired bladder;

[0024] 5. securing the first covering on the wired bladder;

[0025] 6. patching pieces of a second covering onto the first covering,wherein each of the second covering pieces is provided with protrusionsand a trademark formed on an outer periphery of the second coveringpiece(s); and

[0026] 7. securing the second covering pieces on the first covering.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bladder (10) is normally ismade of rubber and is able to be inflated into a sphere. After therubber bladder (10) is inflated, a lining (20) made of wires is securelyattached to an outer periphery of the inflated bladder (10). Multiplepieces of the first covering (30) are placed in a mold and then thewired bladder is placed into the mold to undergo a hot pressing tosecurely attach the first covering pieces onto the wired bladder. Afterthe first covering pieces are securely patched on the wired bladder,multiple pieces of a second covering (40) with markings on the outerperiphery of the second covering (40) are prepared. It is noted thatafter the second covering pieces are prepared, the markings includingprotrusions (41) formed on the outer periphery of each of the secondcovering pieces to increase friction with the user's palm and atrademark (42) (as shown in FIG. 3) with which the merchant is able tohave the best commercial promotion in the market. Furthermore, when thesecond covering pieces are prepared, the manufacturer is able to injecta special color directly onto the trademark (42) during the formation ofthe trademark (42). Then the second covering pieces are patched onto thefirst covering (30) via bonding with a gap (43) defined between everytwo adjacent second covering pieces. Thereafter, the semi-product issent to a mold to undergo a hot pressing to securely attach the secondcovering pieces on the first covering by jointing the second coveringpieces with the first covering. Due to the definition of the gap (43)between every two adjacent second covering pieces, after the secondcovering pieces are securely attached to the first covering (30), thecolor of the first covering (30) is revealed as the stripes shown in theconventional ball. Furthermore, because the trademark color is made in adifferent process and the trademark color seeps into every part of thetrademark, instead of the trademark being superficially painted on theball, the trademark color stays on the trademark even after the ball hasbeen used for a period of time.

[0028] From the foregoing description, it is noted that the method ofthe present invention has the following advantages:

[0029] Durable color; because the color on the trademark is durable evenafter a long period of time using the ball, users are still able toinstantly identify the brand name of the ball.

[0030] Labor efficient; because the labor effort in painting the stripesand the trademark on the ball is eliminated, cost in labor is saved.

[0031] Color diversities; the first covering color is revealed after theball is finished so that the manufacturer is able to choose from colorsfor the first covering to increase the diversities and attractiveness ofthe ball of the present invention.

[0032] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. A method for making a ball comprising the steps of: preparing abladder; inflating the bladder; wiring the bladder; patching pieces of afirst covering with a first color onto the wired bladder; securing thepieces of the first covering on the wired bladder; patching pieces of asecond covering with a second color onto the pieces of the firstcovering; defining gaps between every two adjacent pieces of the secondcovering; forming stripes by revealing the first color of the pieces ofthe first covering from the gaps; and securing the pieces of the secondcovering on the pieces of the first covering. 2-3. (canceled)
 4. A ballcomprising: a bladder; a lining made of wires and mounted around thebladder; pieces of a first covering with a first color securely mountedon an outer periphery of the lined bladder; pieces of a second coveringwith a second color, each securely formed on an outer periphery of thepieces of the first covering; gaps defined between two adjacent piecesof the second covering; and stripes formed by a portion of the pieces ofthe first covering.
 5. (canceled)